Hidden Treasures of Italy

By Joanne Natale Spigonardo

December 1, 2020

As the Holiday Season begins, I have fond memories of my trip to Orvieto, many Decembers ago.  Orvieto is located in the Umbria region of Italy.  It is rich in history and the town has numerous artists that sell their wares to locals and to tourists. The city is quant and breathtaking with its beautiful Etruscan and Roman facades. It is known for its white wines but produces many notable reds as well.  One of the most delicious meals I have ever had, is the fettucine with white and black truffles.  We enjoyed a delicious Trebbiano wine with our meal. We walked to the enchanting Duomo after dinner and found a wonderful café where we sampled the local and luscious semolina cake encased in bittersweet chocolate.

To burn off our sumptuous meal we strolled along the narrow streets. I was amazed by the many Pinocchio shops in its narrow streets.  One shop in particular will always remain in my memory with an elderly man as the owner.  I do not remember his name, but his image is clear.  I felt that I stepped into another century. The whole experience was surreal.  The gentleman had a mane of white hair and kind eyes.  He had many versions of Pinocchio, in many different sizes, and they were made by his hand and they were unpainted.  I asked him why he opened the shop and if he had an apprentice. He simply replied that he loved to carve wood and that the character of Pinocchio was always an inspiration.  He had not found an apprentice yet that wanted to commit to his standards.

While the story of Pinocchio originated in Tuscany, it is a part of Italian culture throughout the country. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written by Carlo Collodi in 1883 while he was living in Florence.  The book has influenced so many versions of the story and several films, one of the most famous by Walt Disney.  Pinocchio is a moral story about the value of truth and of accountability.  Parents world-wide read this story to children hoping to teach the values it projects.

We left the shop with several small Pinocchios, some of which I have passed on to my family, and some that I still put out every Christmas.  When I place them on my mantel I always think of the beautiful shop and the hidden treasure of Orvieto.  I always recall the altruistic artist and his passion for his work, and the meaning of Pinocchio, that truth is the foundation of morality. This message resonates with me, especially this year.

About the Author: Joanne Natale Spigonardo

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, history wine and cuisine. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. For more information about Joanne please visit her Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/

One of my favorite hidden treasures of Italy is the truffle. I seem to find treasures in food and the experience it has to all senses so thought it would be so interesting to share a few of the many  Truffle festivals that take place in Tuscany, and hopefully, post pandemic, will once again allow us to enjoy this delicacy.

Truffles are found underground, near the root of tree and give off a very pungent odor which is why both dogs and pigs are used to “hunt” them. Truffles are harvested, generally between September – December and festivals mostly fall in line with the harvest season.

If you would like to plan a trip to Tuscany, and want to enjoy the festivals, here are few to start. 

San Miniato Truffle Festival is generally the last few weeks of November.  Here the town hosts market stalls through the squares and offer wide variety of tasting opportunities.  While you are there, you can try the tradition recipes of the white truffle.   The town itself is lovely, and the landscape make it a prime environment for the truffle.  In fact, the world’s largest truffle was found in San Miniato

San Giovanni d’asso Truffle Festival is hosted in late spring as they harvest their truffles in December, and while they are not the luxurious white truffles, they are just as delicious. If you go, you can taste the various dishes, and purchase truffles.  If you do purchase a truffle, there is a time limit on how long they will last, so you could ask a local to prepare your truffle for you.

Volterra Truffle Festival offers an experiences to taste white truffles in wonderful recipes along with enjoy other gifts of the area, including wine, cheese and oils.

While each festival may seem similar, it is best to explore each one, and see if you have a favorite.  Go and find a favorite recipe, take in the beauty of the region and the people.   Taste, touch, see and feel the truffles and hear all sounds of people who are creating wonderful dishes and treats.

Maybe after you visit a festival, on your next visit to Tuscany, you can plan time on a truffle farm and join in the hunt for the fabulous truffle.  And food for thought, there is a specific dog breed that is recognized as a truffle hunter.  The Lagatto Romagnalo dog is trained to point at the truffle so it can be gently removed with little damage to the ecosystem.  You may want to go truffle hunting just to be in the presence of this adorable dog.

Bon Appetit!

Contributor Karen Titus

Karen recently retired from Delta Air Lines and has always enjoyed traveling the globe, with special love and interest for Italy as it was her first trip to Europe.For more information about Karen, please visit:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b/

Linda Thatcher Raichle

November 2020

Exploring this gorgeous stretch of Italy’s northwest coastline by foot is exciting and exhilarating. My husband and I were on a cruise and had the opportunity to explore this wonderful part of our favorite country.  We hiked all 5 towns of Cinque Terre in one day! Each small town is connected by foot paths along the cliffs overlooking the sea.  Even though we spent only a short time in each town,  we discovered hidden treasures of Cinque Terre including a wonderful little coffee shop with amazing views of the coastline through a sculpture of 2 lovers,  a bakery fulling our ongoing quest for green olive bread, bathers lounging like seals on the warm rocks, colorful homes nestled into the high, steep cliffs and lush, terraced vineyards.

While in each town, we sought out a café, a piazza or simply strolled the streets along the harbor. We sometimes had to weave our way among fishing boats moored along the roadside because the harbor was not large enough to accommodate all the boats.

The 5 “lands” or “earths” comprising Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Trains are an easy and convenient way to travel to the towns.  Start at either the most northern or southern town and hike the paths connecting each town. We took the train from the seaport and started in Riomaggiore and ended our hike in Monterosso where we wished we had time to enjoy a quick dip in the sea at the end of our hike. Or, you might start in the other direction and enjoy a refreshing aperitif in Riomaggiore at the end of the day.

 If you have time, consider staying longer in Vernazza, the most popular town with its meandering streets and colorful houses or Riomaggiore with its castle and church of San Giovanni Battista.  Be sure to save your energy to climb the 377 steps to the town of Corniglia, the only town not directly on the sea.

Cinque Terre is beautiful, sometimes rugged and always breathtaking with amazing hidden treasures.  See if you can find more of them on your next trip.

About the Author: Linda Thatcher Raichle

Linda’s quest to become an Italian citizen began when she found her Sicilian grandfather’s birth certificate (born: 1858) in the back of her cousin’s closet. She is now a proud dual citizen of the US and Italy. Linda and her husband, John, an avid photographer, have enjoyed their retirement years “Dolce far niente”(the sweetness of doing nothing) by traveling extensively throughout Europe and Asia.  Italy is a frequent and favorite destination. 

Resources

Cinque Terre Train schedules and prices: https://www.trenitalia.com/  or https://www.omio.com

Green Olive Bread Recipe:  https://www.instructables.com/Herbed-Green-Olive-Bread/

When traveling through Italy, part of the intrigue is the fashion that you see on the street, in cafes and restaurants, and on both men and women while riding on a Vespa, an art in itself.  The fashion capital of Italy is Milan, and the fashion is like visiting a museum.  The colors, patterns, textures you see on both men and women are intoxicating and the shopping can be an event that lasts forever in you memory.

While in Milan, recommend taking a leisurely walk through Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga as this area houses famous brands such as Prada, Gucci, Bulgari.  It is so much fun to window shop, and if you go in, you may be offered a glass of champagne or sparkling water, which allows you to spend some time taking in the beauty, creativity and art of it all.  Whether you make a special purchase or not, it is a memory that you will have for a lifetime and one that will always bring a smile to your face, as I know it does for me! 

In addition to luxury shopping, there is endless possibilities of boutiques, markets and department stores.  If this is more your interest, please take a walk down Corso Vittoria Emanuale II, a little history fact, the street was named after the first king of unified Italy.  Here you can stroll, shop, window shop and stop at a café for an espresso and maybe a gelato or panettone, or sit for dinner or lunch.

Enjoy the art and hoping you can bring a piece of it home with you.  Whether it is a fabulous, artfully wrapped package specially for you or pictures of moments in your mind of the joy you experienced while in Italy, 

Fai ricordi

About the author: Karen Titus

Karen enjoys traveling the globe and has a special love and interest of Italy as it was her first trip to Europe many years ago. She has recently retired from Delta Air Lines and looking for the next chapter and adventure of her life.
For more information about Karen, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-titus-22b4a1b/

Joanne Natale Spigonardo

October 16, 2020

Castel Frentano is a spectacular rural town in the beautiful Abruzzese area of Italy. The town dates back to the 13th century and is surrounded by majestic mountains as well as the amazing Adriatic Sea. While these natural and historic wonders are hidden treasures of their own, the bocconotto stands tall as a traditional and delicious jewel.

The first time I had a bocconotto was when I visited Castel Frentano, my husband’s home town as a young bride. I come from a family of home bakers but I must say that I was astounded by the bocconotto and still am, as one of the most delicious of treats. If you are a chocolate lover hold on to your seats, this is a chocolate lovers dream!

Bocconotti are filled with lots of chocolate, almonds, and jam. There are many variations of the recipe that are secretly guarded by generations of bakers in Castel Frentano. The most difficult part to master is the pastry shell. It is a cross between a cookie and a pie crust. Biting into a bocconotto is an enticing melt in your mouth experience. If you can get a family member or a friend to give you the recipe that would be the most authentic, although you can find versions of the recipe online.

Celebrations in Castel Frentano often include bocconotti, they are the centerpiece of any dessert table. Mostly they are part of the many vibrant and original celebrations of the amazing Abruzzo region. I hope you will visit Castel Frentano, in the province of Chieti on your next trip to Italy, and make sure to have a bocconotto while you are there!

About the Author: Joanne Natale Spigonardo.

Joanne has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, history wine and cuisine. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. For more information about Joanne please visit her Linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/

What could be better than indulging in gelato for breakfast, lunch and dinner when in Rome? While on my first visit to Rome, I found love, in gelato!  This is a treat I have never had in the United States, or if I did, it didn’t seem to come close.  Could it be simply being in Rome made it all taste so good, or was there really a difference?  So I set out to find to explore and find my favorite treat of Rome. 

Each morning, I wandered the streets of Rome, off the normal tourist path.  This curiosity would help find the ideal place at that perfect moment that served Gelato. I started my quest with a taste of hazelnut and chocolate to see how delicious it was.  In the late afternoon, as I strolled the fabulous city, I would find a new tucked away spot and taste a few more flavors while I sat watched people go about their day.  There is something so special about those moments that I will never forget.  Was it simply the art of eating gelato? Was it simply being in Rome that made it taste so good? Or perhaps was it me fantasizing how much I would love to pack up and live in Rome that brings back such bold memories? 

For me, after several days I came to the conclusion that pistachio gelato is my favorite.  To this day, whenever I think or see pistachio gelato, my senses bring me immediately back to Rome and the glorious simplicity of it all.  Taking a turn down a narrow street, choosing a flavor, sitting down and watching the beauty and all of its hidden treasures.  

About the author:

Karen Titus has retired from Delta Air Lines and has a live long passion for travel, and is a fitness instructor, and an avid lover and advocate for animals. 

By Joanne Natale Spigonardo

On one of my trips to Rome, I was amazed to find 12 churches in a two-block radius. It was a beautiful October day, perfect for leisurely exploration. I though that if I took a full day that I could explore all of those 12 particular churches. I was looking to find how rich they were in history and in art. It was a revelation to know that so many renowned sculptors and painters were to be admired free of charge. I thought that I would start with the Church of the Gesu. I particularly wanted to visit this church because I so admire the Gesu Church on the campus of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

The Church of the Gesu on Via degli Astalli in Rome, is an amazing work of art in its entirity, from its façade to the tremendous paintings and altar pieces inside the church. It is of the Baroque style and was designed by Giacomo da Vignola in 1568. It is the mother church of the Jesuit Order. Jesuits are known for their devotion to education, beauty, and art. The ceiling is a masterpiece by Giovanni Battista Gaulli and is called The Triumph of the Name of Jesus. It was inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his teachings.

Many of the tapestries, sculptures, and paintings have been on exhibition in the past years in various museums globally. I hope you get a chance to visit the Church of the Gesu on your next trip to Rome. It is one of the hidden treasures of Italy.

I didn’t get a chance to visit any other churches that day, as it took hours to fully enjoy the wonders of the Church of the Gesu.

About the Author:

Joanne Natale Spigonardo is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has a long history of travel experience. Joanne admires the Renaissance, art-history, and women’s studies. She is also the author of the novel, White Widow, available on Amazon.